Comments on: Whence springs Todd Akin's belief in magic, rape-proof vaginas?

By: Betsumei

Betsumei — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 02:00:00 +0000

He would fail to conceive, which by his definition woul make it legitimate.

By: Deidzoeb

Deidzoeb — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 21:07:00 +0000

Because stopping false accusations is more troubling to some people than the act of rape. That’s consistent with Akin’s “legitimate rape” and Ron Paul’s “honest rape”. Some rape is going to happen, you can try to stop it, but my God, think of the men whose lives may be shattered by dishonest, illegitimate claims of rape. Won’t someone please think of the men??

By: Gyrofrog

Gyrofrog — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 19:08:00 +0000

I’ve heard something similar, from someone who argued against criminalizing spousal rape (in other words, it wouldn’t be rape). (I recall that in some US state, it was not illegal to rape one’s wife.) He didn’t deny it was a problem, or that it happens, but rather that women would clog the courts with false rape accusations to get back at their husbands.

By: aikanae whatever

aikanae whatever — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 18:33:00 +0000

The missing context is that Akin isnt alone. This has been an elephant in the room for decades including the notion that women should enjoy rape. It’s about time there is a serious discussion and these attitudes are brought out in the open.

By: Andy Schiller

Andy Schiller — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 18:31:00 +0000

So – being a resident of MO, if his opposition can’t ride this wave of fortune to another term in office, I have officially lost all hope for my state and country. Yet, maybe I’m getting ahead of myself, since we ARE the state who once elected a dead person over a viable live candidate. What silly gooses those GOP office holders are…

By: LaylaSV

LaylaSV — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 18:22:00 +0000

My blanket statements were based largely on the information provided by the US census bureau and, admittedly, used a pretty nebulous notion of “rump” states that included ideas like evangelical religious beliefs and conservative family values more than geographical cohesiveness. My intention was to link states through their poverty, lack of education and conservative religious values – and this holds true.

These are the states with the highest statistical correlation between conservative, evangelical values and poor economic indicators and, thus, my idea of “the rump:”

Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, Kentucky, South Carolina, West Virginia and Oklahoma.

And here are my sources:

Lowest percentage of the population earning a Bachelor’s Degree (2009)

Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.

Source: http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/education/educational_attainment.html

Federal individual income tax returns by state (again from the US Census, this time most recent available figures are 2008). The states with the lowest reported income per capita are:

Arkansas, Alabama, Indiana, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, and West Virginia

Source: http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/federal_govt_finances_employment/federal_individual_income_tax_returns.html

Highest Amount of Federal Aid to State and Local Governments per capta: (2007) :

Wyoming, Alaska, Louisiana, Mississipi, Vermont, New York, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island and West Virginaa

http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/ranks/rank22.html

Highest Infant Mortality Rates for 2006 – again from the US census:

Mississipii, Louisiana, Alabama, Tenessee, Arkansas, South Carolina, Deleware, Georgia, North Carolina, Indiana, Maryland, Oklahoma, and Ohio.

http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/ranks/rank17.html

Highest unemployment Rates (2008)

Michigan, Rhode Island, California, Mississipi, South Carolina, Alaska, Nevada, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, Oregon, Tennessee, North Carolina, Florida and Georgia

http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/ranks/rank25.html

Highest percentage of people below the poverty line:

Mississipi, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Mexico, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee

source: http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/ranks/rank34.html

Voted Republican in the last 3 Presidential Elections:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississipi, Mousori, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennesee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_presidential_election_results_by_state

Highest percentage of White Evangelicals:

Tennessee, Oklahoma, Alabama, West Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Kentucky, South Carolina, Mississipi, Kansas, Georgia and Virginia

source: http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/2004/11/State-By-State-Percentage-Of-White-Evangelicals-Catholics-And-Black-Protestants.aspx

By: David Bersen

David Bersen — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 16:49:00 +0000

This guys is about to get the boot, people are tired of these lies being spread. Please support this cause and booth is mofo –

http://www.youstand.com/cause/82112/remove-todd-akin-from-the-house-science-committee

Please take a stand and support this.

By: Floatationman

Floatationman — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 16:13:00 +0000

While I certainly agree that folks in rural areas often vote against their own financial interests, I have to disagree with your blanket statements about rumplanders states. I’ve compiled some helpful info graphics.

Highest unemployment:

http://www.economicpopulist.org/content/state-unemployment-paints-bleak-picture-july-2012

The Southeast is pretty depressed, but the midwest is doing OK. Highest unemployment: California.

Highest infant mortality rates

http://www.statehealthfacts.org/comparemaptable.jsp?ind=47&cat=2

The southeast has the highest levels, but most of the lowest levels are in lightly populated states. Hard to draw a solid rural vs. urban comparison.

Lowest percentage of people graduating from college:

http://www.higheredinfo.org/dbrowser/index.php?measure=19

The percentages are all over the map, but the lowest percentage is in Connecticut (11.7%) and the highest is in South Dakota (60.7%).

Generate the least amount of income:

http://www.mint.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/mint-income-r3.png

Lowest: Arkasas, Mississipi, West Virginia. Highest: Connecticut. How much of that disparity in income is offset by similar gradations in cost of living? Hard to say from such a simple infographic.

Require the most federal aid:

http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/31/states-that-received-the-most-federal-funds/

Per the writeup there:

Alaska received nearly twice the national average, taking in $20,351.13 per resident, the most of any American state. The state with the second-highest total in per-capita federal funds received was Virginia, at $19,734. The state receiving the least federal money per resident was Nevada, which obtained $7,148.49 per capita, followed by Utah with $7,434.65 per capita.

-Summer Glau

By: Floatationman

Floatationman — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 16:11:00 +0000

Todd Akin – Too dumb for Missouri

I hope.

This message brought to you by “A guy who lives in Missouri and really hopes this guy doesn’t win as that shit would be embarrassing.”

By: X3nCho

X3nCho — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 12:52:00 +0000

Thing is:
It wasn’t a brain fart, or a line misspoken. It’s a “study” that’s cited by Conservatives with an affinity for flat earth theories.

Source:
http://ontd-political.livejournal.com/9939313.html

and original “study”:
http://www.christianliferesources.com/article/rape-pregnancies-are-rare-461

By: Petzl

Petzl — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 11:57:00 +0000

It’s always hard to understand the machinations of a severely conservative mind. But the Akin episode gave me insight into one reason why we always hear about conservatives being so adamant about denying abortions for rape and incest: they see it as the expedient loophole that “everyone” will use when a traditional abortion would be illegal.

By: Petzl

Petzl — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 11:44:00 +0000

“Biggest rock is best rock!”
It’s funny because it’s true.

By: professor

professor — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 09:09:00 +0000

A Slightly Longer
Answer:

We try so
hard to make them know

That rape
is just a big no-no.

We talk, we
shout across the land

But these
dumb shits don’t understand!

Since
common sense avoids their ear,

Let’s punch
some sense in from the rear

Perhaps
they’ll have perspective put

When the
shoe is on the other foot.

It may be
bad to wish them harm,

I try so
hard to just stay calm,

But if this
method makes them change,

It might be
worth a little pain!

By: Amelia_G

Amelia_G — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 07:56:00 +0000

A Short Poem Inspired by Todd Rapekin

When is rape
Legiti-
mate?

By: professor

professor — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 07:48:00 +0000

I just wonder: if he had to spend some time sharing a prison cell with Biggy McButtstretcher whether he would call that “legitimate rape” or “the other kind”?

By: tubacat

tubacat — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 07:19:00 +0000

Actually, he seems to be talking about a magic conception-proof vagina and/or uterus…

By: tubacat

tubacat — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 07:10:00 +0000

From an Atlantic.com article on the topic:
“According to a 1996 article in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “among adult women an estimated 32,101 pregnancies result from rape each year.”
(I know, I know, this doesn’t provide the rate compared to consensual sex –someone else can look that up!)

By: Antinous / Moderator

Antinous / Moderator — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 04:49:00 +0000

They’re gleefully looking forward to Armageddon.

By: LaylaSV

LaylaSV — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 04:09:00 +0000

What is baffling is how the populace of the rump failied to notice that their states have the highest unemployment rates, highest infant mortality rates, lowest percentage of people graduating from college, generate the least amount of income and require the most federal aid. Worse, as faith based reasoning increases and education decreases, the ability to detect the links between disastrous policies and resulting economic decline, becomes more and more rare. Increased rates of teen pregnancy didn’t dissuade anyone from advocating abstinence only sex education. It doesn’t help that television news reporting has devolved to a he said / she said format devoid of facts, logic, or conclusions – a format that perpetuates the notion that nothing is really true and no one can really “know” anything.

Everyone talks about job creation but where are these jobs to come from if not from new developments in science and technology and the resulting services that support them? How then can anyone, ever, opt to cut education spending or censor science education? What jobs do conservative Republicans imagine the middle class will be doing in 15 years? The 1% only need so many pool boys.

But then I guess there is a very politically active segment of the US population that thinks a return to biblical times is just what God wants.

By: LaylaSV

LaylaSV — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 03:51:00 +0000

Todd Rapekin is crazy but, depending on how big the Men’s Rights movement is in Missouri and on how voraciously the anti-choice constituent votes, he might be crazy like a fox.

By: LaylaSV

LaylaSV — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 03:44:00 +0000

The study controlled for the obvious, right; that women having an affair were likely sleeping with their side pieces way more often than they were with their boring ol’ husbands?

By: LaylaSV

LaylaSV — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 03:37:00 +0000

I suspect that for the Todd Akins’ of the world, most rape claims would be considered not really rape anyway. Regardless, since rape can’t possibly cause pregnancy (due to magic vaginas) there is no need to worry about giving anyone an abortion no matter the veracity of their claim.

This isn’t really about rape, honest or otherwise. It is about slowly closing down legal and safe access to abortion on every front, by any means necessary. Logic and science are not TA’s priority.

By: billstewart

billstewart — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:20:00 +0000

Apparently some right-wingers are making the distinction between forcible rape and statutory rape, and don’t want teenage girls getting abortions just because their parents want them to (assuming that the sex was consensual but under the local age for legal consent.) Because traditionally, they could “go visit grandma” and then put the child up for adoption. (For many of them, it’s also that they’re pigs who don’t believe that “date rape” is something men should be punished for.)

By: Alden

Alden — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:11:00 +0000

Please, these days we call it “waterboarding terrorists”.

By: spacedmonkey

spacedmonkey — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:03:00 +0000

Not really any more bizarre than most of what Republicans believe in this day and age.

By: CHilke

CHilke — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 01:59:00 +0000

The associative arrangements of America mean that all the best and brightest people from places like Prague, Oklahoma (see the earlier story about the valedictorian) move to cities to go to college and get jobs, leaving behind a poor, uneducated, fundamentalist rump occupying the “heartland” between the coasts. This rump clusters together and self-reinforces their ridiculous and paranoid beliefs, and they’re now uniting under the banner of the newly transformed Republican party, which has become a quasi-fascist authoritarian movement. They are transforming rural areas into a sort of pre-enlightenment zone more akin to the tribal areas of Pakistan than a first-world industrialized nation. Hence you see things like creationist museums and abortion providers being run out of town. This fellow clearly represents a lot of citizens’ views, otherwise he would not be a CANDIDATE FOR THE SENATE, for crying out loud! This is what much of America is becoming.

And thanks to the way our government is structured – with representation more based on geography than population – these rump areas are increasingly determining our political culture. The rump is cynically manipulated by the plutocrat class into giving them everything they want (via things like FOX News and talk radio), while the urban educated class can only watch, impotent, mouths agape, as these people determine the fate of our nation.

When the future Gibbon pens The Decline and Fall of America, surely this will be included in the dynamics of collapse.

By: pjcamp

pjcamp — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 01:44:00 +0000

Well, to be fair, he didn’t say he was talking about non-leech-bearing doctors nor the kind that don’t have a barber practice on the side.

By: Chewbacka Grizelda

Chewbacka Grizelda — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 00:39:00 +0000

There ya go. If being raped, just cry out “Mrs. Doubtfire!!!”

By: B E Pratt

B E Pratt — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 23:34:00 +0000

For those curious about the quote, it is from Watership Down by Richard Adams

By: EH

EH — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 23:04:00 +0000

Achin’ for a Rapin’

or, hey, “Achy Breaky Rapey”